What happened
On May 27, 2023, a Europa aircraft, registration F-PHRC, was performing a local flight near Gaillac-Lisle-sur-Tarn aerodrome. The pilot, accompanied by a passenger, approached runway 25 but overshot the intended aiming point. In an attempt to execute a missed approach, the pilot increased power; however, the aircraft failed to gain significant altitude or accelerate effectively.
Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude, appearing to struggle to maintain height. As the pilot attempted to maneuver onto the left base leg, the aircraft entered a high nose-down attitude and collided with the ground in a field approximately two kilometers south of the aerodrome. The impact resulted in one fatality and one serious injury, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BEA examined the wreckage and recovered data from the aircraft's EFIS GNSS unit. The investigation focused on the aircraft's propulsion system, specifically the electric propeller pitch-change motor. Investigators found that a loose ground conductor lug on the metal mount of the electric motor caused intermittent electrical faults. This prevented the propeller from transitioning to the necessary fine-pitch setting required for optimal climb performance during a go-around.
Analysis of the flight data showed that during the missed approach, the aircraft's speed remained dangerously low, between 46 and 51 knots, while the pilot maintained a high pitch attitude. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not equipped with an angle of attack (AOA) warning system.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the propeller pitch-change governor to adjust the blade pitch, which severely degraded the aircraft's climb performance.
- The pilot failed to detect the governor malfunction during the approach, as the propeller speed indicator was not part of his primary visual scan.
- Upon realizing the aircraft was not climbing as expected, the pilot continued the maneuver at a low altitude and low airspeed, eventually entering a state of flight on the backside of the power curve.
- The lack of an operational procedure to verify the governor's functionality prior to descent prevented the pilot from choosing an alternative landing strategy or aerodrome.